Superb already broken in 4 days!!!

[VAG newbie]

After 4 days of enjoyment behind the wheel, the car was taken back to the dealer for repair today

It was the first time my wife tried on the Superb. She was a bit sceptical about Skoda and wasn't keen to drive it today. But I wanted her to go behind the wheel and see it for herself. I was in the firm belief that she will fall in love with the car.

Well, as soon as she backed the car out of the garage, the horn started to honk. It was continuous as if it had hit a pole or something. The car is otherwise fine, drivable, and no error message or anything show up on the MFD. I thought my wife must have done something funny but she swore she didn't.

We switched the engine off and the horn stopped. This time I started the car, and it was fine, so she drove off. So I thought it must be a woman's thing. Then 2 minutes later, she called again to ask me to rescue her. She said the horn tarted honking again. She restarted the engine and the horn just keeps going as soon as the engine start. It was so loud that it was attracting attention in the neighborhood (What a publicity for Skoda, except in a bad way....). I went and try everything. But it would just keep on honking continuously.

Contacted the dealer, who then send someone to come and have a look. Couldn't fix the problem on site and couldn't drive it back to the workshop. The car was towed........ So far, no one knows what went wrong. The suspiscion is something to do with the KESSY system and the alarm.

With all these disappointment, I have to give commendation to Bryan Byrt Skoda in Brisbane. Very prompt service. They offer me a free loan car while the car is being looked at.

Would appreciate any ideas why the horn would just go off like that. I hope it is a teething problem. Otherwise, the Superb is really superb. I miss it already. Hope I can have it back tomorrow

[woofy]

Just to ask a really obvious question, noone or nothing was sitting on the key right? I've done that once or twice fitting car seats in my pockets in our keyless Hyundai and if you squish it enough the car alarm goes off.

[VAG newbie]

Possible, as my wife put the keys in her bag filled with things. But we couldn't stop it even after activate and deactivate the alarm.

Contacted dealer today. They found the problem was with a chip in the KESSY system. Basically it is not recognizing the key's ID even tho the engine would start. (apparently alarm and engine start works differently), so it thinks the car has been stolen. We tried to deactivate the horn by taking the circuit breaker out, then the engine immobilizer gets activated. Can't start the car. Good to know the security system is good but it can be a nuisance)

Bit disappointed as I was expecting the reliability with Skoda to be better. But then, if I didn't opt for the KESSY, it wouldn't have happened. So more sophisticated the car is, more trouble it will have.

Now have to wait for the chip to come in. Dealer says expect Monday, but I doubt it... At least I get to have the Yeti for the weekend! (But I still miss my Superb)

[Jake02]

KESSY is a new thing for Skoda (and I think it's a moderately new thing for VW too) so there would be teething problems unfortunately. It also shows why Skodas are more reliable than VWs (because they have less tech) which is interesting. I'm sure it'll be all sorted soon and enjoy the Yeti too (which I consider to be Skoda's best car) .

[VAG newbie]

I think this answers the $6M question, how can Skoda, who is owned by VW, and uses VW comonents, be more reliable than VW?

Since the problem with my car is with a component in the KESSY system, then how well the car was screwed together is irrelevant. Even it was fitted to 100% precision, if the component was faulty, it will cause problem. As the KESSY is the same as VW, then the fault lies with VW, not Skoda. If the fault was because of a loose wire, then I'll really doubt Skoda's assembling skill. Otherwise, the car was rattle and squeak free, and rides like a $100,000 car.

So the answer to the question is: Yes it is true, that the built quality is better. But reliability is as reliable as VW, for a mechanically and technologically identical car.

BTW, I get to experience the 103TDI engine a lot with the Yeti, while it's not as sluggish as I thought, I don't regret for getting the 125TDI. I'll post my experience on another thread.

[woofy]

If the same few parts were given to my 4 yr and then myself to do and then I had to trust it to be reliable, which do you think would have better build quality and ultimately reliability. They are linked, imagine if Skoda used Japanese parts...

[PassatB6]

KESSY is a new thing for Skoda (and I think it's a moderately new thing for VW too) so there would be teething problems unfortunately. It also shows why Skodas are more reliable than VWs (because they have less tech) which is interesting. I'm sure it'll be all sorted soon and enjoy the Yeti too (which I consider to be Skoda's best car) .

VW has had KESSY system at least since Mk IV Golf in Europe, so 12 + yrs. Skodas don't have less tech, just stuff which has already had the bugs ironed out. I think Skodas are put together better than VWs. Most faults are where humans have been part of the process and where thrid party suppliers have produced a 'dud' item , such as your chip.

[VAG newbie]

Agree with all of you. Given that they could get the part in a few days, they must have source it from VW warehouse. I don't think there are enough Skoda's with KESSY in Aus to justify Skoda Aus to keep the parts in stock in Australia if the part is Skoda specific.

Even though we all know its not Skoda's fault, unfortunately this event has done very bad publicity, at least to all those around me. As I have cancelled the Passat and ordered the Superb instead, there were many eyes with scruitiny watching at me and waiting for the outcome of the Skoda. My wife has already refused to sit behind the wheel of another Skoda since. She was totally traumatized. There are also many "i told you so" from my relatives and friends. Even some of my colleagues who have shown interest in the Skoda, but were too scared to commit, they were waiting to see my experience with Skoda. This event might turn them away.

Somehow I think I'm a lemon magnet. I've bought so many cars and they all have problems from new. These include Honda, toyota and Lexus. Surprisingly, the only car that I never have problem is Mitsubishi Magna.

[Brendan_A]

I wouldn't write your car off as being a lemon from one little fault that was easily found and is being replaced.

Also VW wouldn't have made that part it would have been out sourced from another company so you can't really blame them.

[PassatB6]

Agree with all of you. Given that they could get the part in a few days, they must have source it from VW warehouse. I don't think there are enough Skoda's with KESSY in Aus to justify Skoda Aus to keep the parts in stock in Australia if the part is Skoda specific.

Even though we all know its not Skoda's fault, unfortunately this event has done very bad publicity, at least to all those around me. As I have cancelled the Passat and ordered the Superb instead, there were many eyes with scruitiny watching at me and waiting for the outcome of the Skoda. My wife has already refused to sit behind the wheel of another Skoda since. She was totally traumatized. There are also many "i told you so" from my relatives and friends. Even some of my colleagues who have shown interest in the Skoda, but were too scared to commit, they were waiting to see my experience with Skoda. This event might turn them away.

Somehow I think I'm a lemon magnet. I've bought so many cars and they all have problems from new. These include Honda, toyota and Lexus. Surprisingly, the only car that I never have problem is Mitsubishi Magna.

Can I tactfully say your relatives have no idea. They don't realise that the Superb is simply a more reliable Passat. What cars do they drive?

[VW Convert]

I've bought so many cars and they all have problems from new. These include Honda, toyota and Lexus. Surprisingly, the only car that I never have problem is Mitsubishi Magna.

I would have thought this says it all.

Any car, no matter what brand can give trouble at any time, just the luck of the draw.

As for friends and relatives, who cares what they think, did you buy the car for them or yourself?


Cheers

George

[VAG newbie]

The drama just keeps going.

While I was expecting to get my car back on Monday, I chased the dealer like crazy. Then I got some good and bad news. Good news was the part arrived and it was all fixed. The reverse camera lens that they were waiting for also arrived and was installed at the same time.

The bad news was while they were fixing these thing, they accidentally cracked the windscreen! I don't know how but I suppose accidents happen and I'm just unlucky. Now, the windscreen is not a VW part and there is no stock in Aus! So it ha to be flown in from Czech Republic. This means a minimum wait of at least 2 weeks! (I bet it's gonna be way longer than that!) Although they'll try to talk to dealer principle, and see if they can swap the windscreen from a stocked car. I doubt it.

But this is where the service of the dealer really comes in. They really apologized and they have offered to provide me an equivalent car, ie. a Superb 125TDI elegance, as a courtesy car, because they realized I have paid for a Superb, I should enjoy a Superb. The only difference is it will be a wagon rather than a sedan, and I bet te interior will be black rather than beige (suits me, as I don't want to make any stain on a demo car). They also offered to fill the tank up in the courtesy car and my car when it is repaired. So I'll have free motoring for at least another 1500km.

So even though I wasn't happy about them cracking the windscreen, yet accidents happen and they have done what they can to compensate me. So I have no complaints.

But I still miss my car......I haven't even had the chance to show the photos!!

Stay tuned for further development!

[aware]

Glad to hear the dealer has provided great service with the offer of another Superb for you to drive.

Now, the windscreen is not a VW part and there is no stock in Aus! So it ha to be flown in from Czech Republic. This means a minimum wait of at least 2 weeks! (I bet it's gonna be way longer than that!)

Is this waiting time common for Superbs (or even VAG cars in general)?

To me, it does seem to be a long waiting time for a windscreen

[BlackSuperb]

Has the dealer has tried hard enough to source the windscreen in Australia? Surely the Skoda importer would carry enough range of spare parts that are likely to be high rotation? Windscreens would be one of those items. Surely?

It took me 6 weeks to get a simple dashboard vent the dealer had broken pre delivery. Of course I could drive it but I didn't think it would be such a long wait to obtain a part that is required for every day use like a windscreen.

Maybe Skoda should get onto windscreen manufacturers in Australia and get them to make some?

[VAG newbie]

Has the dealer has tried hard enough to source the windscreen in Australia? Surely the Skoda importer would carry enough range of spare parts that are likely to be high rotation? Windscreens would be one of those items. Surely?

Well, if they are providing me with a demo Superb I would say they have tried as hard as they can. Because the longer I drive the demo, the more the demo will depreciate (because of higher mileage) = dealer losses. At the same time, they would have one less vehicle for other customers to test drive, which means they would have either let them test drive a brand new unregistered vehicle (So potential depreciation on that car), or register another vehicle as a demo, which is a certain depreciation.

They could've simply given me a second hand Ford (the dealer also do Ford) as a courtesy vehicle, but they didn't. This is what makes me so touched. I would say they have secured a customer that will likely to go back to them (if I still want a Skoda). I will also recommend my friends and relatives to go to them.

It took me 6 weeks to get a simple dashboard vent the dealer had broken pre delivery. Of course I could drive it but I didn't think it would be such a long wait to obtain a part that is required for every day use like a windscreen.

Maybe Skoda should get onto windscreen manufacturers in Australia and get them to make some?

I think if there are enough Skoda's sold, they would do it. At the moment, I don't think so.